Remember jumping in your seat the first time you saw Jurassic Park? That was just a movie, and you were probably sitting in a comfy theater chair. Imagine finding yourself coming face to face with what looks like a real dinosaur in a deserted parking garage. If you don’t have a heart attack, you’ll still have to find a change of pants.

[YouTube via Laughing Squid]

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]]>http://wp-admin.installadz.com/being-pranked-with-a-lifelike-robot-dinosaur-must-be-terrifying/feed/0Toyota’s Kirobo Mini: Say ‘hi’ to your new portable friendhttp://wp-admin.installadz.com/toyotas-kirobo-mini-say-hi-to-your-new-portable-friend/
http://wp-admin.installadz.com/toyotas-kirobo-mini-say-hi-to-your-new-portable-friend/#respondFri, 13 Jan 2017 22:02:00 +0000http://wp-admin.installadz.com/?p=3475 Do you remember American Sci-Fi sitcom Small Wonder? The storyline revolved around V.I.C.I., an android in the form of a 10-year-old girl. Back then, many of us fostered a dream of having robot as our companion. Amongst the already existing humanoids like Mark 1, Toyota is out with one more option to choose from. Yes, we are talking about Toyota’s Kirobo Mini, a 10 centimeter-high portable communication companion that can talk to you, gesture at you, and detect and respond to your emotions.

With people spending an average of 4.3 years in cars, which equates to traveling to the moon and back three times, Toyota came out with a vision of making driving become a physically and emotionally transformative experience. The Japan-based automotive manufacturer believes that much can be learnt about our behavior and emotion while driving.

Toyota’s Kirobo Mini could turn its head toward the person speaking and engages in casual conversation while moving its head and hands. Its compact size means that this cuddly companion it can be taken just about anywhere for heart-touching communication. It can be connected via Bluetooth to smartphones installed with a dedicated app.

What’s more wonderful is that a built-in camera enables the Kirobo Mini to recognize people’s facial expressions, through which it tries to detect their emotions so that it can accordingly adjust its manner of speaking and moving. This wonder machine can also converse based on information drawn from the vehicle or home.

Basis the information about the vehicle or home obtained through connected services, the Kirobo Mini can provide more-caring comments, such as: “That was a long drive. Good job.” or “Welcome home! A warm bath is waiting.”

On the specification front, the seated height and weight of Toyota’s Kirobo Mini is 10cm and 183 grams. Its continuous communication time is approximately 2.5 hours and battery charging time is approximately 3 hours, as revealed on the company’s official website.

As robots can already vacuum your house and drive your car, do let us know how you would feel about having the Kirobo Mini as your companion? Stay tuned for more updates!(Image: Toyota official website)
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In a previous Mr. Robot recap
, I predicted Elliot Alderson will join Don Draper and Walter White as one of the iconic male antiheroes of 21st century TV. After last night’s season one finale, I think Elliot is also on track to becoming the definitive hacker in pop culture history. SPOILERS AHEAD.

Why make such a bold claim? Because after last night, I suspect this show will be able to continually address hacking in a relevant way, simultaneously pulling from and predicting headlines. And what I’m talking about goes a lot deeper than that last-minute, post-production, dubbed-in line about the Ashley Madison data dump
. (Though I loved that, too-just as Elliot’s line between fantasy and reality is blurred, ours is, too.)

What I’m talking about is this show’s ability to treat the concept of “hacking” with a respect, prescience, and understanding that no other movie or TV show has ever touched. That’s going to be the show’s fuel that’ll keep it running years ahead-years that, I’m sure, will be punctuated with more worldwide security breaches that threaten CEOs
and celebrities
alike.

Anchoring it all is a likable, compelling her Elliot. At times, it seems like he’s not even fully aware of his own talents, which can-and finally do-trigger shockwaves of international and historic proportions. I mean, this finale (which made #MrRobot trend worldwide on Twitter) ended like a doomsday prelude. fsociety has won, Evil Corp is hemorrhaging, and fsociety’s released videos of a masked figure declaring we are all finally free. (Elliot watches the video, realizes that person is him, but has zero recollection of anything.)

And so, similarly masked fsociety supporters frolic lawlessly through the streets in shopping carts. Even more march through Times Square holding signs that read “We Are FSociety” and “Down with Debt.” Armored cops control the crowds. Worried world leaders plaster cable news.

Which, when you put it like that, sounds pretty overdramatic and the stuff of cyberpunk cliché. But with Mr. Robot, these fictional fallouts from huge hacks feelbelievable. Could we see a digital takedown worthy of fsociety someday in the real world? Who knows. I hope not. But this show operates in some realm that feels far-fetched, but familiar. It yields a scary plot line that makes us think: Damn, could this really happen?

But something trumps our sick fascination with the cyber apocalypse: Our investment in Elliot. Elliot isn’t some 2-D stock computer whiz. He’s layered, nuanced, he understands right and wrong, and he has a personal history that’s both clouded in mystery and obscured by psychological struggle. He wants to know the truth, and not just about his hacking targets. He wants to know the truth about himself. So do we.

We’re rooting for him. He’s in this extremely delicate state, finding himself at the nexus of a stunning event he unleashed semi-unknowingly and, for all we know, unwittingly. After he wakes up from an apparent three-day mini-coma to find the world imploding, having no memory of successfully pulling off the huge Evil Corp hack, we realize he’s surrounded by people who want to exploit his skills for morally dubious purposes.

Which leads me to season two. The way I see it, the three main characters-Elliot, Angela, Darlene-are all rocketing into three distinctly different directions that’ll serve as the conflict sources among them. Take Elliot and Angela: Angela’s now working PR at the company that killed his dad and her mom. Angela and Darlene: Darlene is #2 of the now globally infamous hacking group that’s still at odds with Angela’s new employer.

And Elliot and Darlene: While Elliot’s literally losing his mind over the megahack that wouldn’t have been possible without him, Darlene has on heart-shaped sunglasses and is throwing post-hack “end of the world” parties, complete with guest DJs and Solo cups in their Coney Island headquarters. Is she after fame? Fun? Is that why she suddenly swooped back into her mentally unstable brother’s life?

And what of Tyrell? Where is he? He couldn’t have pulled a Mr. Robot and ended up being another goblin dwelling in Elliot’s subconscious. Otherwise, his terrifying wife, Joanna, would have said something when Elliot came looking for Tyrell. (By the way, that random, non-English utterance Joanna muttered to Elliot? According to Reddit, it was Danish for, “If you have done something to him, I will kill you.”)

Adroit handling of hackerdom aside, the show seems adequately equipped to stick around. Mr. Robot could likely do for USA what Mad Men did for AMC: It’s a well-written, well-acted drama that might put it in better Emmy contention alongside the big boys, giving the network greater clout, and perhaps paving the way for more fare that’s edgier and more cinematic than what came before.

USA clearly knows that’s a possibility; it ordered season two before the pilot even aired. Sometimes I think this show’s antiestablishment message is too heavy-handed, but it somehow works. It doesn’t lean too much on looming dystopia or flashy cyberattacks. It’s a show about its characters, their relationships, and their shared histories. Its depiction of hacking has been accurate-real hackers were hired as consultants
, after all-and the story taps into all the paranoia that comes with being an internet-connected human in 2015.

Cyberpunk has long been a niche genre-but Mr. Robot has found a way to hack into the mainstream.

Locusts contain multitudes. Though traditionally associated with Biblical plagues that destroy crops, it turns out they could have a second career as remote-controlled cyborgs that sniff out explosives. This possibility is only slightly less terrifying
.

Most animals have a better sense of smell than human, and dogs (and sometimes rats) have long been used to find bombs. Locusts have a few advantages over dogs: They’re smaller, can fly to more inaccessible locations, are less likely to trigger an explosion and, let’s be honest, are not nearly as cute and way less likely to make us feel guilty if they die during this mission. “It took only a few hundred milliseconds for the locust’s brain to begin tracking a novel odour introduced in its surroundings,” Baranidharan Raman, a professor of biomedical engineering at Washington University in St. Louis, told the BBC.

So the Office of Naval Research awarded a $750,000 grant to Raman to continue turning these bugs into defenders of safety. First, he’s creating a silk nanomaterial”tattoo” that can be placed on a locust wing. This tattoo generates heat and a laser beam then controls the locust remotely by heating up the wing to move it closer or further away from an area. An onboard chip monitors neural signals, which are then sent wirelessly to the operator and turned into a simple LED: red for yes, green for no. Raman hopes to have working cyborg locusts in two years.

Raman isn’t the only one who has seen the potential of locusts. Israeli engineers created a five-inch robot locust that can jump 11 feet and scour disaster zones
. If you really think about it, locusts are heroes.

[BBC News]
]]>http://wp-admin.installadz.com/scientist-wants-to-engineer-locusts-into-remote-controlled-bomb-detectors/feed/0Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 with AnyPen technology now up for grabs at Rs. 22,499http://wp-admin.installadz.com/lenovo-yoga-tablet-2-with-anypen-technology-now-up-for-grabs-at-rs-22499/
http://wp-admin.installadz.com/lenovo-yoga-tablet-2-with-anypen-technology-now-up-for-grabs-at-rs-22499/#respondTue, 03 Jan 2017 13:23:00 +0000http://wp-admin.installadz.com/?p=2516Lenovo has officially launched the Yoga Tablet 2 with AnyPen technology in India, carrying a price tag of Rs. 22,499. The AnyPen technology allows users to draw or scribble on the device using any pen like object. Capacitive displays only respond to styluses with a special coating, but you can use any pointy object (including an actual pen) with this device.

The tablet can be pre ordered from Lenovo’s online store starting today for the aforementioned price. It is certainly one of the best midranged offerings we’ve come across, especially considering the hardware on board. It runs Windows 8.1, so you can be assured of getting the best out of your productivity experience with this machine.

The tablet is only available in Ebony Black and we hope to find it through other e-commerce retailers in India over the coming weeks. Apart from the AnyPen technology built-in, the Yoga Tablet 2 has pretty much the same hardware as the standard variant. The tablet will officially start shipping the 28th of April, so if you place the pre-order now, you can expect to have the device by the end of the month. Read on for the full hardware specs of the Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2.

The world’s biggest consumer drone maker is back with its smartest compact quadcopter yet: The Phantom 4 automatically dodges obstacles, takes amazing video in all directions, and makes you look like a drone pro-even if you’ve never touched one before.

The new Phantom 4 is available for preorder today for $1400, and if you’re interested in drones at all, you need to check this thing out. Yes, it’s $150 more expensive than the starting price of its predecessor, the Phantom 3, but for the extra money you’re getting a lot of new smart features.

DJI’s Phantom drones have defined what regular people can expect from a camera-equipped quadcopter in the last few years. With each iteration, the Phantom drone’s flight gets a little smoother and its camera gets a touch better. With the Phantom 4, though, it stops being just a camera with wings that’s easy to fly. This drone is damn-near sentient.

The Phantom 4’s image quality inches forward this time-the camera has a new lens that should be sharper around the edge of the captured picture. But it’s a huge leap forward in robotics.

The coolest feature by far is the Obstacle Sensing System, which will hopefully help you avoid a bulk of the tree branches and garage doors that get in your way. The system works using two forward-facing optical cameras that scan for objects the Phantom might run into.

The obstacle-sensing software automatically redirects the Phantom 4 around any object that would disrupt its flight. What’s even cooler is that if the drone senses it can’t fly around an obstacle, it’ll hover in place and wait for your next command, like a floating robotic puppy. When the “return to home” function is activated, the Phantom 4 will avoid obstacles on the way back, too.

Of course this system isn’t perfect, and it can’t avoid what it can’t see. So you still have to think before liftoff-if the drone tries to fly over something and bangs into the tree branch above it, that’s on you.

The Phantom 4’s sharp robotic mind comes in handy with a feature called ActiveTrack, which turns the drone into a smart videographer that follows whatever subject you tell it to. Using the DJI mobile app, simply tap on the subject you want the Phantom 4’s camera to stay on, and the drone will always keep that subject centered. We’re told there are some limitations to the tracking powers, but really, if it works at all, it’s sort of magical. Life-logging will be enabled in a whole new way.

The Phantom 4 also comes with a Sports Mode that lets hit solid speeds of 45 mph, while maintaining nimble ascent and descent rates. It’s supposed to give you a taste of what drone racing could be like, even if you only bought this thing only to shoot video.

There are some cosmetic and hardware changes this time around, as well. The Phantom 4 has sleeker, more aerodynamic lines, which help it achieve a new top speed without using much more power. The propeller motors are now exposed, allowing for improved heat efficiency. The propellers also attach with a new screwless locking mechanism that works a lot like the top of a medicine bottle: It screws on easy, and then to release it, push down and unscrew.

Preorders start today on DJI.com and Apple.com. Expect your shiny, new, flying camera with a mind of its own to arrive sometime after March 15.

]]>http://wp-admin.installadz.com/djis-phantom-4-is-blazingly-fast-and-almost-crash-proof/feed/0Robots Could Be Better Than Drones for Deliveries-If They Don’t Get Beaten Up, That Ishttp://wp-admin.installadz.com/robots-could-be-better-than-drones-for-deliveries-if-they-dont-get-beaten-up-that-is/
http://wp-admin.installadz.com/robots-could-be-better-than-drones-for-deliveries-if-they-dont-get-beaten-up-that-is/#respondMon, 02 Jan 2017 00:41:00 +0000http://wp-admin.installadz.com/?p=3702

Remember what happened to hitchBOT
this summer? You know, the hitchhiking humanoid that was ripped limb from limb two weeks into its solo journey? Because two of the original founders of Skype want to make robots that’ll similarly traverse streets, in order to ship goods to your house. It could be a great alternative to delivery drones… assuming the ‘bots make it to your doorstep in one piece.

Today, the new company Starships Technologies announced its plans to bring six-wheeled, self-driving delivery robots to the world. Two of Skype’s original cofounders, Estonians Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis, helped launch this new venture.

The ground robots themselves would be small, emission-free, and each would carry 40 pounds, or the approximate equivalent of two grocery bags. Customers can pick exact time slots to expect the deliveries, which the company says can take anywhere from five to 30 minutes from nearby shops. The robot, which is equipped with nine cameras and would travel on sidewalks alongside pedestrians at four miles per hour, can be tracked by customers real-time on a mobile app. And when the robot arrives, only the customer can unlock the delivery from the robot.

Starship says that the bulk of normal delivery costs come from that last mile or so, and that’s where the delivery robots could lead to cost savings. Again, as always, robots could be used to replace humans in tasks
that (a) humans don’t want to do, (b) would be cheaper if a robot did it, and (c) the robot does the task better than a human could. Could these robots check all those boxes? It’s unsure at this time.

But this could be a great alternative to delivery drones. The legal regulation, privacy concerns, and safety issues swirling around unmanned aerial vehicles are all complex and seemingly never-ending
as governments around the world grapple with how to integrate drones into our lives. Right now, everyone from Amazon to Google and even Walmart
are pursuing delivery drone technology.

But ground delivery robots might be better received, from a legal and privacy standpoint. The real question is, could such a robot actually be seamlessly integrated into our neighborhoods and streets? Would it run into fire hydrants, or would a group of teen rapscallions make scrap metal out of it? (The BBC reports that each Internet-connected robot would be outfitted with a speaker and cameras, and that a human operator at headquarters can alert authorities if the robot’s attacked.)

Plus, assistive transport robots aren’t really anything new: Tokyo’s Haneda International Airport, which is rolling out helpful robotic staff among the human employees, sports a ‘bot that carries a staggering 400 pounds worth of luggage for consumers. But Starship’s taking it one step further with actual home delivery

As for Starship Technologies, it shouldn’t come as much surprise that this new technology is being developed in Estonia. Megan Smith, CTO of the United States, told an interview in September
that Estonia is a tech-forward nation that the rest of the world (including the U.S.) can learn from. A robust robotics scene is just one of Estonia’s “e-society” initiative. It’s a country that’s incredibly focused on emerging tech and online infrastructure: citizens can vote, pay taxes, and get prescriptions instantly through a single site.

However, part of the fun (and constant challenge) with emerging technologies is figuring out how people will respond to them. Assuming humans don’t treat delivery robots as something to be kicked or keyed-and assuming these autonomous machines can actually safely get your purchases to your door-they could be a viable alternative to drones for shipping you groceries and packages.

The company says it’s testing its prototypes now, with plans to launch a pilot program in the US, UK, and in other countries next year.

The Tokyo Moto Show has just gotten away, and amongst fuel-efficient hybrids and the latest advancements in autonomous vehicles, you’ll find an unorthodox reveal from Yamaha: a robotic biker called the Motobot that can handle some of the fastest motorcycles on earth.

Or maybe Yamaha is actually developing the future of highway patrol, given the Motobot bears a striking resemblance to last year’s rebooted RoboCop
. The humanoid could very well be designed to chase down speeders, or quickly put an end to high-speed pursuits without putting the lives of human law enforcement in danger.

For the time being, though, Yamaha’s goals for the Motobot sound a little less lofty than designing a future crime fighter. Instead, the company’s robotics division hopes to further develop the robot so that it can eventually handle an unmodified motorcycle (no added safety gear) to speeds of more than 120 miles per hour.

This is an autonomous motorcycle-riding humanoid robot built around a fusion of Yamaha’s motorcycle and robotics technology. R&D is currently underway with the goal of developing the robot to ride an unmodified motorcycle on a racetrack at more than 200 km/h. The task of controlling the complex motions of a motorcycle at high speeds requires a variety of control systems that must function with a high degree of accuracy. We want to apply the fundamental technology and know-how gained in the process of this challenge to the creation of advanced rider safety and rider-support systems and put them to use in our current businesses, as well as using them to pioneer new lines of business.

The research also begs the question as to whether or not auto or motorcycle racing will be as exciting to watch when there are robots at the wheel. Or, is our fascination with racing tied directly to the risk involved with actual humans in the vehicles?

Apple can’t stop dreaming up with ways to keep its glass screens from cracking. The latest attempt comes in the form of a pretty bombastic patent which was just approved by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Basically, it would make your iPhone fall like a cat.

Cats are famous for their righting reflex, an innate ability for the animal to orient itself mid-flight so that it lands on its feet and doesn’t hurt itself. Apple’s new patent applies this exact same idea to its fragile and expensive electronics, namely mobile ones like iPhone and iPad.

Using input from a combination of gyroscopes, accelerometers, and GPS, a device equipped with this new “protective mechanism” will recognize when it’s in free fall and calculate metrics like speed of descent and time to impact. The device would then use an onboard motor to reorient itself in order to protect fragile components like the screen or the camera when it hits the ground. The device’s on-board vibration motor could be employed, so it would even screech a little bit as it feel towards Earth, just like a cat.

The patent itself is rather detailed, and Apple provides a few more methods for repositioning the device midair. They include extending air foils or deploying gas canisters for controlled landings. This sounds kind of insane until you realize that Jeff Bezos and friends patented a smartphone airbag system over three years ago
.

So it’s worth considering that there’s a bit of an arms race over these magical iPhone-saving techniques. It’s also worth mentioning that often companies file patents not because they actually want to build the device but because they want to protect their intellectual property, so the chances you’ll actually see this become a reality are slim. Either way, who wouldn’t want a more cat-like iPhone? [USPTO via AppleInsider]

Kids love Halloween because they get to dress up, act like a monster, and be rewarded with free candy. Then you become an adult, and suddenly have to deal with little monsters demanding free sweets. Halloween is suddenly less fun, unless you build a Lego robot to deal with trick-or-treaters.

Jason Allemann of JK Brickworks’ latest creation is this Halloween Candy Thrower (you can build your own with the plans available here) that hurls tiny Snickers, Mars, and Reese’s peanut butter cups at anyone who walks up and triggers its motion sensor. You don’t even need to say “trick or treat” to be rewarded with candy, which feels a bit like cheating to all of us who grew up having to mutter that free candy password.